Jeff,

RE: Dallas Area site to visit.

Certainly, you need to ride the McKinney Avenue heritage streetcars just north of downtown. Those are a must see. Riding the light rail is good as well although modern.

The Texas Electric museum in Plano is very nice. It's a model for what a "small town" museums run mostly by volunteers can do.

Take a trip to Frisco and see that the grounds of the new Age of Steam museum look like. Not sure whether any equipment is there yet. The city museum is also very nice with a depot and railroad artifacts inside the main building.

Thanks!

To answer the question of equipment, as of last Sunday when I went out to our trolley car storage lot with other volunteers to do work, we passed by the museum. Frisco 4501 was still there as of then, as was most of the collection. I personally don't know anyone inside that would be able to show you around, but I'll point this towards a person I know does.

And, being a volunteer of said earlier trolley car line, of course you have to see it! Also, when there, besides riding the cars, ask if anyone is available to give a barn tour. Or message me, as I'm now out of school, I'll most likely be there a lot more now.

Until next time!

Right near the new Frisco site there is the remaining D&H PA unit (AT&SF) in the local lumber yard. Within walking distance there is a Frisco 2-8-0, a park stuff and mount. Still worth seeing.

If you find yourself in the Fort Worth area with a day to kill, I'd recommend the Tarantula train. Sounds like the steamer is down but it's still a neat ride to the stockyards and there's a lot to do there. https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/Thing ... fault.aspx

Jeff,

Tyler was kind enough to send this my direction. I've been a long time volunteer at the museum and good friends with the President for the last few years. Here is what I know.

The museum IS closed for the impending move. Right now the main focus of the volunteers is to prep Union Pacific's #4018 "Big Boy" and the Frisco 4501 for the 50 mile journey north. The 4501 was moved about 6 weeks ago from it's spot for the first time since 1972. She creaked and groaned in protest but after the first turn of her drivers moved freely. The main rods have been taken off to be loaded in the boxcar for the move, and all bearings have been serviced and are ready to go. The Big Boy is moved about every 2 or 3 years and has been found to be in great shape. The volunteers were last seen cleaning the crosshead guides.

There is only 1 piece of museum equipment in Frisco right now, and that's the aforementioned AT&SF PA unit. It is on a storage track north of Main street facing north. Most of the other equipment is either stored offsite at this time or is in the original museum grounds at Fair Park. It is worth driving by the museum if your in town to see if the volunteers are there. If so, you may be able to get an impromptu tour. Mention my name though and they might throw you out, haha.

As to the other suggestions, the Grapevine Vintage railroad is worth a ride. Most tourist lines trundle along at about 10 miles an hour, but this line operates fast enough that you get the feeling that your actually going somewhere. At one point you hit welded rail and fly along at about 40. Even without the 2248 it's a decent ride.

Visit the Plano interurban museum for sure as they have a wonderful exhibit there. They represent the Texas Electric Interurban Railway, a local Interurban line that ran from Denison on the Red River through Dallas to Waco or Corsicana. They have saved and restored an old Texas Electric RPO car. It's worth the trip.

And finally the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority is a must see like Jim said. I'm the Chief Dispatcher there so I'm a little biased, but it really is something. We operate 4 cars on a daily basis that are all older than 86 years old. The oldest being Rosie, a J.G. Brill car built in 1909 for Portugal. We also have the only Stone & Webster turtleback car in daily operation. Here is our website: http://www.mata.org/

Finally, ride the light rail, the TRE between Fort Worth and Dallas, and the DCTA's A train to Denton. You'll enjoy it.

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions.

Mike Sullivan

Coupla questions while we're in the area. Will that "Frisco" 2-8-0 join the Age Of Steam display or will it stay where it is?

And are there any RDC's still running around in commuter service in the area?

Dick -

For the record, this Consolidation is painted for the Frisco, but I believe it is actually one of the Lake Superior & Ishpeming SC-4 class 2-8-0's. Not sure which one.

Les

According to steamlocomotive.com, it's LS&I #19 via way of the Las Vegas MGM hotel and the Grand Canyon Railway.

Guys,

As far as I know, the 2-8-0 belongs to the city of Frisco. At this time there is no intention to deed the locomotive over to the museum, but things could change.

And at last check the DCTA is still running RDCs in daily service. But I haven't ridden in awhile.

Mike S.

So much for labels!
When in Frisco, you'll note the street signs bear the Frisco logo. It's really cool.

Only place your most likely to actually see them is on the A-Train out of Denton, and the northern end of DART's green line. All but two of TRE's RDC units went up there while they set out their power needs. Talking to crews of the TRE, they haven't had to fire up their two RDCs they still have on their line but maybe once or twice since the others went a little north.

The A-Train line I think personally is a better ride to do in RDCs than TRE's line. It is a lot more open, with even an impressive bridge over Lake Louisville. A little more scenic than houses and swamp land.

Thanks for all the info! It's still pretty cool to have RDC's in revenue service in 2012, even if they have been heavily rebuilt.

I'm wondering if the city might do something with the #19 since a genuine Frisco locomotive will be arriving soon.

I can recommend riding the RDCs wherever they are running in the Dallas area. They have this great "boulevard ride" as I like to call it - nice cushy suspension like a vintage Impala or Cadillac.

Wesley

The 4501 is near and dear to my heart. My Granny use to take me to the museum on a regular basis and I have always been in love with that locomotive. I have played trains for many hours in the cab of that engine and would love to see her high stepping down the rails once more. Maybe one day.

And you met Benny. One of the nicest dogs I've ever known.

Great picture too. Keep em' coming.

Mike Sullivan

Same for me. I used to spend hours up in the cab of that locomotive when my dad would take me to that museum.